Desiring Good Body Health

 Desiring Good Body Health

1 Corinthians 11: ²⁶ This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. ²⁷ It follows that if one of you eats the Lord's bread or drinks from his cup in a way that dishonors him, you are guilty of sin against the Lord's body and blood. ²⁸ So then, you should each examine yourself first, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For if you do not recognize the meaning of the Lord's body when you eat the bread and drink from the cup, you bring judgment on yourself as you eat and drink. ³⁰ That is why many of you are sick and weak, and several have died. ³¹ If we would examine ourselves first, we would not come under God's judgment. ³² But we are judged and punished by the Lord, so that we shall not be condemned together with the world.

 

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“If one of you is late, then all of you are late” were the words of the organization I was trying to join during college. This didn’t seem fair because there were always a couple of people who would always be late, who also were trying to join. When asked where are they, no one spoke up. I then made up something to protect them. “When one of you doesn’t tell the truth, all of you lie” was the reply. How did he know I was lying?

 

• There were times when I wanted to protect myself so I would do or say anything to do so.
• There were times when I thought “It was their fault I am being punished.”
• There were times when I felt I was justified with an individual sin I did because those people “made” me do it.

 

Paul warns people about eating and drinking in a way that dishonors JESUS. He had already explained that the “body” should have unity, now he is addressing something more serious, namely the heart. He suggests staying away from proclaiming what JESUS has done by eating and drinking communion bread and wine until recognition of “the body” is accepted.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to see all people as HIS.
• GOD wants me to examine myself to see if I have any evil desires towards one of HIS children.
• GOD wants me to turn from those evil desires by asking HIM for forgiveness.

 

Being forgiven by GOD seems unnecessary once I believed in JESUS for salvation, I mean I’m going to sin and didn’t HE forgive me for all my sins? Yes, however if I have the attitude that I do not need to follow what JESUS desires, am I in trouble? Possibly.

 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Having a healthy fear of GOD to me means I can see other people and desire the best for them, which is a saving relationship with JESUS. This doesn’t mean I or they won’t slip and sin, rather all of us will be guided by the HOLY SPIRIT to seek GOD’s kingdom first. I am not better than another person in HIS eyes. I am glad HE looks at all of us with HIS love.

 

Challenge

• What do you notice about the seriousness of eating and drinking to proclaim HIS death until HE returns?
• What do you see regarding how you treat others or “the body”?
• How does self-examination affect health? Do you believe health can be affected by the heart?
• Is there anyone in your heart that could be treated more honorably?

Desire to Win

Luke 3: ¹² Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

¹³ And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

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“How did you beat him?” I asked. “It’s my secret” was the reply. I watched him play the game again and noticed he was taking money out of the bank as his opponent wasn’t looking. He was cheating! This seemed like a great idea. “Maybe now I can win” I thought to myself.

• There were times when I would do whatever it would take to win.
• There were times when I would stretch the truth in order to win.
• There were times when I would cut corners, stack the deck and lean things in my favor in order to win.

John said to the tax collectors “Collect no more than what is appointed for you” knowing most of them would skim a lot off the top for themselves. The industry was corrupt and it was widely accepted amongst people so their practices, while sneaky, were accepted. BUT GOD wants me to act differently.

• GOD says to me “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is HIS delight.”
• GOD says to me “The LORD wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair.”
• GOD says to me “Use honest scales, honest weights, and honest measures. I am the LORD your GOD, and I brought you out of Egypt.”

Honesty should be placed higher than winning every time. The desire to please GOD is in fact “winning” every time I play. Whether it is a game or a business deal, GOD wants me to ask HIM “How do you want me to handle this transaction?” HE can decide the outcome and when HE does, I win every time because I accept GOD’s will.

• Are you hung up on winning?
• Do you lie to yourself in order to justify your actions?
• Can you stop trying to win and start listening to GOD who always has a great plan for you?  

Spinning the Spinners

Mark 4: ¹⁰ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ¹¹ And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, ¹² so that

‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’”

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In an effort to make the situation better, my bosses told me to “Update the message to make it more palatable.” In other words they wanted me to put “spin” on the message. Instead of saying “This flat out does not work” they suggested “At this time, certain features are being reviewed.” I wonder if I try to “spin” the explanation of JESUS.

• There were times when I used “spin” to make the story easier.
• There were times when I used a more palatable story to explain things.
• There were times when I would take a lie and try to spin it to “a” truth that was close enough.

JESUS saw through the hearts of those who would never believe in HIM. HE spoke in parables because speaking in direct terms to someone who would never believe in HIM would be a waste of HIS time. HE wants me to believe in HIM whether HE speaks directly or indirectly to me.

• JESUS speaks to me through written history and letters compiled in a Bible.
• JESUS speaks to me through humans who speak highly of HIM.
• JESUS speaks to me through circumstances that only HE can orchestrate.

Amazement can happen on a daily basis if I allow it. I mean I could walk out my door and be absolutely amazed if I were to open my eyes and ears to what GOD is doing. Unfortunately the worries of the world blind me at times to the amazing things around me. GOD says “Relax. Let ME guide you with MY plan.” When I allow HIM to be GOD I can truly “perceive” and “understand.”

• Are you confused about something?
• Do you have a very specific answer for your problem that you are not getting no matter how hard you try?
• Will you open your eyes and ears to GOD so you can see what HE is doing in your life today?

Conducting Business GOD’s way

2 Kings 12: ¹³ The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the Lord; ¹⁴ it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. 

¹⁵ They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.

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Sleep was my coveted desire.  I mean I gallivanted all night and I had to be at work at 7:00AM downtown in the big city. They wouldn’t mind if I slip into the bathroom and take a few winks. After my nap my boss questioned where I was. I stuttered and stammered through my explanation and thought to myself… “I have to take shorter naps!”

• When I think I can take liberties at work, it spills into other areas of my life.
• When I think I can steal even a paperclip from work I may steal large amounts later.
• When I think I can cheat customers on small items I will probably try to get more money from them than deserved.

I have run into a few business people who have acted with integrity and they are marvelous. In fact some of them made me change my ways. They told me to show up on early, tell the truth and to do what was right when no one was looking. By adding this character to my work ethic, I was promoted time after time.

• GOD wants me to be honest in my business dealings or HE will deal with me.
• GOD wants me to have integrity with my business or HE will not bless it.
• GOD wants me to have character with my business so HE can use it to draw people to HIM.

Slick and slippery don’t mesh well with GOD. HE wants service from the heart and it takes work to push the greedy part of me out and allow GOD to fill my heart.

• Are you trying to be slick?
• Have you fooled yourself into thinking you can get away with the tiny lie you just told?
• Can you stop lying to yourself?
• Won’t you start acting with integrity?

Grow up and give it back!

Joshua 7: ¹⁰ The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 

¹² That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

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Toner got all over my hands and finally some got on my clothes.  I fixed numerous paper jams and it seemed like the automatic stapler went nuts as soon as I fixed other problems.  It was after hours and I had to fix everything myself because I was making copies for my social group. “My company wouldn’t mind because they made lots of money”, I thought to myself.

• When I permanently borrow something without permission it’s stealing.
• When I use something without permission it’s stealing.
• When I go outside the boundaries for my own personal gain, it’s stealing.

Stealing was not my mode of operation.  I would never consider myself a thief.  I mean thieves break in and take what’s not theirs. So what’s the harm in taking stuff from work? “These folks are thieves themselves, they have plenty!”

• GOD wants me to mature enough to not want even a paperclip that’s not mine.
• GOD wants me to grow up enough to realize that even the time spent goofing off at work is stealing.
• GOD wants me to ripen enough to desire HIS supply of my needs rather than me taking them from someone.

Slipping out of work early or taking material from the job or doing inferior work to collect a check has not build the best relationship between me and GOD. I may even justify my actions by classifying the company or even my boss as jerks, but it still doesn’t fit well within GOD’s favor.

GOD wants me to be honest in my dealings and desires that I focus my attention on HIM more and more.

• Are you stealing from work by not giving your best?
• Are you stealing from GOD by not serving, giving, or praying?
• Can you give back what you have taken and start over?
• Won’t you grow up enough to admit what you are taking?

Mind if I slam you?

1 Peter 1: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

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“Where were you?” questioned the person running the meeting. “We had a situation we had to take care of” was my reply and it was somewhat true. The situation was we had to settle the check at our long lunch that caused us to be late. “Whew, that statement worked, situation avoided” or was it?

Then it hit me… “Who were they to be critical of me?” Maybe I should tell everyone what they were doing last week.

• When I am dishonest it blinds me to truly seeing what is right.
• When I am deceitful I tend to cover myself by slandering “that” person.
• When I am full of slander I begin to form a mild variety of hatred that I quickly dismiss by pointing out their flaws.
• When I am caught in the act I quickly deny the situation or I put up my defenses saying “they made me do it” which shows my hypocrisy.

The best person I know to protect is “me.” I mean if it means I have to stretch the truth a little to protect “me” then who cares? A tiny fib won’t hurt will it? And besides GOD forgives me anyway so I’m clear right? Wrong! GOD saw through the Pharisees’ attempt of holiness mixed with sin and condemned their practice. HE won’t spare me unless my focus changes.

• GOD wants me to love those who are difficult to love.
• GOD wants me to act with the truth and diminish my deceitfulness.
• GOD wants me to admit my flaws instead of pretending they don’t exist like a hypocrite.
• GOD wants me to want HIM instead of envying someone else’s power, position or praise.
• GOD wants me to praise others instead of muttering bad things under my breath about them.

Craving “spiritual milk” means growing up through understanding what GOD wants of me, not what I want from HIM. It means understanding HE desperately loves me and has a wonderful plan for me as well as “that” person. Taste that the LORD is good.

• Are you hiding something?
• Do you know it is better to admit whatever it is so you can heal faster?
• Can you stop talking about “that” person and start talking about yourself?
• Won’t you ask GOD “what do you want me to do” and wait on HIS answer?